Coupling-pocket.



M. T. MAcPHERSON.

COUPLING POCKET.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG.2| I915.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

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MALCOLM T. MAGPHERSON, QF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORIfOBATION' OF NEW JERSEY.

COUPLING-POCKET.

Application filed August 2, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MALcoLM T. Mao- PnnRsoN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Alliance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coupling- Pockets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to car couplers and has particular reference to a novel means for adjusting the height of pocket couplers.

It is common to provide the pockets which are attached to the end sills of locomotives or cars with a shelf projecting laterally from the pocket and adapted to underlie and support the coupler which is mounted in the pocket, the intention being that a portion of the weight of the coupler shall be supported independently of the pivot. It has been found, however, that the wear incident to service permits downward tilting of the coupler, this tilting finally reaching a point beyond the permissible limits.

A particular object in the present construction is to provide a pocket having a removable shelf adapted for interlocking engagement with the pocket and also adapted for reversal; that is, for application to the pocket if the latter is reversed.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure l is a plan view of a coupler pocket and shelf constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4: is a face view of the pocket with the shelf omitted.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that the pocket comprises a back plate 10, from which a flaring pocket 11, projects. The latter is reinforced by vertical ribs 12, and horizontal ribs 13. Surrounding the open side of the pocket is a rib 14, and at the top and bottom the rib is in the form of a lip 15, having a groove 16, adjacent thereto. Rearwardly of the open side of the pocket and on the top and bottom walls thereof, I provide recessed bosses 17, 18.

It will be .noted that the pocket is not located symmetrically with relation to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

Serial No. 43,171.

back plate 10; that is, the pocket is nearer to the top of the plate than to the bottom, as viewed in the drawings. When applied to the end sill'of a locomotive or car the device will be bolted on inv an inverted position; that is, with the casting turned 180 to that shown in the drawings. This provides for a lower position of the coupler, this being possible because of the fact that the springs of the locomotive or car are not compressed and the tires of the wheels are not worn. However, as'the springs are compressed and the tires become worn the body of the car or locomotive is lowered and the pocket may be removed, reversed 11nd reapplied, thus bringing the pocket portion at a higher elevation.

With this in mind I have provided for a removable shelf consisting, as shown in the drawings, of a floor 19, joined to a hooked portion 20, which has a bead 21, thereon, adapted to engage the groove 16, in the pocket. A pair of arms 22, project rearwardly each thereof being provided with a dowel 23, for engagement with the recesses in the bosses 17, 18. The shelf may be removed from the position shown in the drawings by rotating the same around the bead 21, as a pivot until the dowels are out of engagement. A bodily lifting movement of the shelf will then enable the casting to be removed bodily from engagement with the pocket. When the pocket is reversed the shelf is, of course, removed from its position shown and applied to the other wall of the pocket.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pocket casting, means permitting the reversal of the casting on the 3. In a device of the class described, the Signed at Alliance Ohio, this 29 day of combination of a pocket member having a July, 1915.

floor, a groove near the outer edge of said floor, and a shelf, said shelf having a bead MALCOLM MAOPHERSQN' 5 adapted to occupy said groove and provided Witnesses:

With an arm projecting underneath the floor, HANS SGHLIGHTING,

substantially as described. H. C. KOEHLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

